Blogs

by the WoundSource Editors

As many as one-quarter to one-third of adults are living with incontinence. Risk factors include: age, obesity, childbirth, and prostate enlargement. Not being able to control leaking urine is embarrassing and can even cause people to limit daily activities and prevent them from enjoying life. Here are some ways medical professionals can support patients living with incontinence.

Diabetic foot ulcers do not always respond well to conventional wound healing methods for a multitude of reasons. Fibroblasts in people with diabetes have decreased migration and proliferation potential as a result of increased metalloproteinase levels in the wound bed of diabetic foot ulcers. These patients are also prone to bacterial infection within the wound because of the immunocompromised status of a patient with diabetes. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can mediate these issues. The precise mechanism of action of NPWT is not clearly defined, but some possibilities have been conceptually determined. NPWT stimulates cell activity and migration, decreases bioburden in the wound by removing fluid, and reduces edema. However, the authors theorized that the increased pressure induced by NPWT on the skin could cause decreased tissue oxygenation in the wound bed.

by Susan Cleveland, BSN, RN, WCC, CDP, NADONA Board Secretary

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a prevalent complication of incontinence that compromises skin integrity, predisposes patients to cutaneous infection, and increases pressure ulcer risk. IAD is an inflammation of the skin as a result of long-term or repeated exposure to urine or feces. Reported IAD incidence rates in long-term care settings vary from 3.4% to 25% and up to 65% in the presence of double incontinence (urine and stool).

By Martin Vera, LVN, CWS

This blog describes a few atypical wounds, including scleroderma, Marjolin's ulcer, and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Even with the previous discussion of atypical wounds in this two-part series, many other atypical wounds exist, and I encourage and challenge you to educate yourselves and others, continue doing the research necessary to continue the battle to prevent and heal these wounds, and increase awareness to achieve early detection and have better chances for positive outcomes.